"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Original Courthouse To Be Restored

The original courthouse was built in 1844 and was the only Cherokee government structure to survive the Civil War. In addition to hosting supreme and district court sessions, the courthouse was also home to the Cherokee Advocate, the first newspaper published in Oklahoma. The building burned in 1875 but was immediately rebuilt at the same location, utilizing the surviving walls. In 1911, the building was sold as part of statehood-induced dissolution policies. The facility was used as office space by Cherokee County until the Cherokee Nation regained ownership in 1979. The Supreme Court Building historical restoration is the first building preservation undertaken solely by the Cherokee Nation. The project will be led by Sikes Abernathie Architects, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – The Cherokee Nation’s cultural tourism department hosted a public ceremony on Tuesday to kick off the historical restoration of the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Building. The ceremony, held on the building’s lawn in downtown Tahlequah, marked the beginning of a two-phase restoration project. The building is the oldest government building in the state of Oklahoma.

Speakers at the ceremony included Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation; David Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Cherokee Nation Enterprises; Ken Purdy, Mayor of Tahlequah; and Mike Abernathie, Vice President, Sikes Abernathie Architects.

“The Supreme Court Building is our oldest historical monument, and it stands for one of the two driving passions of the Cherokee people: law and education,” said Smith. “This building is a true symbol of the Cherokee people. Along with its companion building, the Female Seminary, I can’t think of any other building that swells pride in our hearts and gives depth to our vision as much as the Supreme Court Building.”

The first phase of the restoration project focuses on stabilizing and strengthening the building’s outer walls and is estimated to take approximately five months. Restoration basics, in addition to the walls and foundation, include masonry repairs, upgraded utilities and handicap access. Historical details include returning windows, shutters, roofing and chimneys to an authentic, era-appropriate design. The project will be led by Sikes Abernathie Architects, Tulsa, Okla.

“The project is a historical restoration, which means that a point in time of the building’s history is identified, a time when that particular building was at its prime. The building is restored to the design and detail of that time period,” explained Abernathie. “The era of significance for this building is 1875, before the building fire, and we are restoring it to that time period.”

The second phase of restoration includes the court building’s interior. The total project is tentatively scheduled for completion in July 2009. Upon completion, the courthouse will be an operational museum with pre-statehood era photographs and artifacts.

The restoration is the first of several renovation and restoration projects planned by the Cherokee Nation’s cultural tourism department. The cultural tourism department was created in 2007 to promote the story of the Cherokee people and unite Cherokee Nation tourism as a central endeavor, making northeastern Oklahoma a national tourist destination.

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Building History

For more information about the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Building or other sites with historical significance to the Cherokee Nation, visit Cherokee Tourism OK.